Walang in Bhutan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Identity

More than 15,000 Walung people (who are also known as Olangchung, Walungchung, Holung and Walungge) live in the northern part of the Taplejung District of Mechi Zone in far eastern Nepal. They inhabit about a dozen villages, the five largest of which are named Walungchung, Yangma, Gunsa, Lilip and Lungtung. One source notes: 'The upper Tamur in Taplejung District has a number of Bhotia [Tibetan] settlements. The largest is Walungchung, once a flourishing gola (mart) for transaction of goods between Tibet and Darjeeling. The houses are built of stone walls with wooden shingle roofs. Crops include barley, wheat and potato. The people adhere to Buddhism and their chief deity at the Walungchung gompa is Chenrezi. The Walung people have been hit hard by the decline in Tibetan trade and many have migrated to Darjeeling, Kathmandu and Hile.' Approximately 1,000 Walung people now live in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal in India.


History

The Walung are believed to have migrated south from Tibet several hundred years ago, before settling in their present location. Their language has evolved over the years, so that today it reportedly shares 71 per cent lexical similarity with Lhasa Tibetan; 68 per cent with Dolpo, Loba and Kyerung; and 66 per cent with Lhomi, Helambu Sherpa and Baragaunle. These linguistic relationships show the Walung's historical link to Tibet.

For generations the Walung dominated trade in this part of Nepal, earning their livelihoods as middlemen on the route between Tibet and India. In 1972 one book reported, 'Many successful and rich traders are in residence here. Exports to Tibet include grain, cotton thread and material, sugar, cigarettes, matches and other such goods generally of Indian origin, in exchange for wool, woolen carpets and Tibetan salt. Yak, mules and dzums are used by traders as pack animals. Sar is the nearest town in Tibet, about a four or five day's journey from the border.' When modern roads and transportation killed trade through the Walung area, many of the people were left in turmoil as they had completely relied on trade as their source of income. There were few crops planted in the Walung villages, and few kept animals.


Religion

Tibetan Buddhism is the religion of almost all Walung people. The main village of Walungchung has a large monastery that was built more than 200 years ago. Monks from Lhasa were often invited to come down to the Walung area to reside at the monastery.


Christianity

The Walung are a desperately needy unreached people group. They have no Scripture, Jesus film or gospel recordings in their language. Few have ever been exposed to the gospel in a meaningful way that would allow them to intelligently accept or reject Christ. In 1958 the first four Walung boys attended a missionary school in Darjeeling, but the Walung's homeland in Nepal remains a spiritually barren land.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Walang in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Walang
People Name in Country Walang
Pronunciation wah-LAHNG
Alternate Names Holung; Keccya; Olangchung; Ulang; Ulung; Walung; Walungge; वालांग
Population this Country 3,700
Population all Countries 7,200
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19198
ROP3 Code 117150
ROP25 Code 308688
ROP25 Name Walang
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nepal border areas   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Western
2,900
Central
800
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nepal border areas.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Total States 2
  Western 2,900
  Central 800
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
85.37 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
14.63 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bantawa
Language Code bap   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Nepali Walungge
Primary Language Bantawa
Language Code bap   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Nepali
  Walungge
People Groups Speaking Bantawa

Primary Language:  Bantawa

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2020-2021)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bantawa Jesus Film Project
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bantawa YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bantawa YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.